Robin Linden To Be Interviewed in Metanomics Event

Today (Monday, Jan 7) at 11 AM SLT, Beyers Sellers will be interviewing Linden Lab's Robin 'Linden' Harper, VP for Marketing & Community Development, which is to be broadcast live to several locations in-world. Robin has been called "Adult Linden" in the past: she's the one with her feet firmly planted on the ground, surrounded by a crowd of talented "kids" playing around with high tech using the Tao of Linden. She's also the sweetest and nicest person ever.

Combining those two roles, Robin's the "caring mother" for Linden Lab, and, indirectly, through her job dealing with the SL Community, she's also the loving and guiding parent for all residents. The Metanomics interview will very likely focus on asking Robin how she views the complex social environment in Second Life developing, and what measures will Linden Lab take to keep the very busy community alive and healthy. Don't expect a highly technical interview — Robin's the one to ask how the residents are faring in the social development of our virtual world, not on how badly the asset servers are performing.

What do you do for fun? No, not you. The other you.

In travels across the grid, I find it tough not to run across someone who is in the metaverse consulting and design business. Those that get paid handsomely to build something for someone, regardless of its origins in real life or Second Life.

Of the first generation (and I'm talking about you Forseti, hehe), I have noticed a shift from socializing to working. Work, work, work. And being early to the game, it's understandable and easy to forgive the scarcity of our old friends. We saw the change; they were new to a new industry; and work comes fast and furious.

I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about this new legion of design agencies and consultants-- those that show up, who we're not really show how much they 'get it'. Are they here and doing what's good for business and good for the community? How well do they understand the nuances of how things work in busytown? (Even if it's as simple as 'sims die with 40 people' to the more nuanced issues with various cultures, classes, and species native to the grid).

One question I've grown fond of asking to the design firms I meet is, "What do you do for fun?"

This is a question that some would ask of the Lindens as well. After all, it's okay to have fun-- there's lots to have fun with in SL, beyond 'oh I like shopping'--so, Mr. Design Cowboy. What do you do for fun? That answer, perhaps, can be more telling than the client list.

And hey, you might have gain a new friend to cruise around with and play with while talking shop.

All work and no play, makes Ruth a dull, er, boy.